standardization

Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis var. agrestis Naudin; belonging to Cucurbitaceae family is commonly known as Wild Melon (English), Kachari (Hindi), is an annual climber, probably indigenous to North India. In present study standardization of C. melo subsp. agrestis was performed as per WHO guidelines including macroscopy and microscopy, ash values, extractive values, loss on drying, fluorescence analysis, swelling index, foaming index, determination of volatile oil content. To complete the study methanol and water extract of powdered seeds was screened for various phytoconstituents. The qualitative chemical analysis of extracts was found positive for alkaloids, proteins, carbohydrates, flavonoids and sterols. These studies provide valuable information for the identification and standardization of this plant material. 

  Cucumis melo Linn. (family cucurbitaceae) is extensively cultivated throughout India particularly in the hot and dry North-Western areas. Its fruit pulp, root, seeds and seed oil are used for medicinal purposes. In Unani medicine, the seed kernel is commonly used to treat various disease conditions. Seeds are having diuretic, lithontriptic, laxative, demulcent and refrigerant properties. There are many varieties of melon available and they also show great diversity in foliage. Hence, adultration is very common with this plant. Standardization provides a more reliable, effective and high-quality product by confirming the presence of plant constituents qualitatively and quantitatively. Hence, efforts have been made to standardize the seed to provide scientific data for identification, authentication and distinguishing the plant from its adulterants. The morphological, microscopic, physicochemical and chromatographic studies of Cucumis melo seed will be useful for quality control of this drug in formulations and would serve as a standard reference for further studies. Key words: Adultration, Cucumis melo, flavonoid, phenolic, standardization

  In the present communication, finger print of two ethano-botanically important Anisomeles species has been developed. A sensitive and reliable densitometric High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) method has been developed for the quantification of quercetin, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, catechin and ovatodiolide present in Anisomeles indica and Anisomeles malabarica.  Chromatographic analysis was performed using methanol, chloroform, acetone and ethanol extract of these plants were developed in the different solvents such as toluene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol at various proportions. Detection and quantification of all phytoconstituents was done by densitometric scanning at different wavelengths. These finger prints would be helpful in the standardization of these species.   Key words: HPTLC, Anisomeles indica, Anisomeles malabarica, phytoconstituents, standardization